Texas Heroes: Volume 1 (76 page)

“Yep.” He nodded. “You know what else Lacey told me?”

Christina took another step toward him. “What?”

“She told me about your beautiful heart. Crooked faces can be fixed, you know, but ugly hearts never mend. Looks to me like you’ve got what’s important.”

The little girl cocked her head and studied him. Finally, she spoke up. “Is Lacey going to be all right?”

I hope so. God, I hope so
. But Dev didn’t voice his worries. “She’d feel better if she could see you. Mrs. Wardlow says she would take you, if it’s all right with Mrs. Carpenter.”

Christina leaned over and whispered, “Hospitals are scary.”

Dev hadn’t thought about that, about her past experiences. “Lacey would understand if you didn’t want to come.”

The big brown eyes looked conflicted. “Would you be there?”

“Would you want me to?”

Blonde curls bounced. “Please.”

Dev held out his hand. “It’s a deal.”

Lacey lay back in the bed, drained from the day’s exhausting round of tests. Her doctor’s warnings still rang in her ears.

I don’t care if you have to walk away from every person you know, young lady. You have to get squared away inside yourself. Diet, rest and medication will help, but they’re only bandages on the wound. What you really need is to change your life so you’re not so wound up all the time, trying to please everyone but Lacey
.

You won’t be so lucky next time. You’ve never seen a patient die before your eyes from a bleeding ulcer, but I’m telling you, that’s where you’re headed. Whatever is going on in your life, you make peace with it. Do you hear me?

Not so easy. But he was right—it was time for some choices.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” she answered.

Dev poked his head around. “Is this a bad time?”

She wanted to banish this Dev forever, the one who was so polite, who had lost all devilment in his eyes. “No. I think they’re through poking and prodding.”

He walked inside, casting a quick glance behind him before the door shut. “What did the doctor say?”

“You want the whole lecture or just the highlights?”

His quick grin touched something deep inside her. If only his eyes matched it. “I might need some pointers for my own lecture.”

She tried to smile at him, wanting so badly for him to come closer, to be the reckless Dev who’d dare anything. “Go ahead. I’m beaten into submission already.”

He scanned her face. “You look tired. I can come back.” He made as if to turn.

“No—please. Stay.”

Dev settled into an uneasy stance. The silence between them was awkward as never before.

“Dev, I—”

“I have a surprise—” Both spoke at once.

“Go ahead,” he gestured.

“No, that’s okay—a surprise?” Then she pulled herself back just a fraction. “What is it?”

“I think you’ll like it.”

“All right.”

Dev moved toward the door and pulled it open. A beloved blonde head peered from behind him.

“Oh, Christina—” Joy leapt inside her.

Christina reached for Dev’s hand and glanced at him for reassurance. He nodded, and walked her to the bed. Louise Wardlow stepped into the room, nodding at Lacey and smiling widely.

Lacey returned the nod, but quickly shifted her gaze to the little girl.

“Dev said you wouldn’t be so sad if I would come see you,” Christina offered.

Dev
, was it? How had this happened? She shot a quick glance at him, but his face was impassive. Lacey leaned down and tried to lift the girl. Dev picked her up and settled her on the bed beside Lacey.

Barely able to see past her tears, Lacey nodded. “I’m so happy to see you. I feel better already.”

“Want a hug?”

“More than anything, sweetie.” Lacey gathered the little girl into her arms, squeezing her eyes shut in thanksgiving. She opened them and tried to express to Dev silently what this meant. For one second, joy flared in those green eyes she treasured, then his face settled into remoteness again.

Lacey tried to push away her desolation and concentrate on the child. They began to talk.

Too few minutes later, she felt her strength waning. Christina chattered on, happily oblivious.

“Hey, muppet,” Dev said. “I think it’s time for Lacey’s nap.”

Louise spoke up. “I’d like a minute with Lacey first, please.”

She and Dev exchanged glances. He held out a hand to Christina. “How about you and I go see if we can scare up some ice cream?”

“Yippee!” Christina started to scoot off the bed, then stopped. “Sleep tight, Lacey.”

Lacey gathered her in. “I will, sweetie. Thanks so much for coming to see me. I know hospitals aren’t your favorite place.”

“But Dev told me that it would make you feel better and that he’d be with me the whole time.” Hero worship shone in her gaze.

So Dev was here for Christina’s sake. Lacey couldn’t be jealous of a child so in need of care. “He was right.” She kissed Christina’s cheek and helped her down. “See you soon, okay?”

Christina skipped over and grasped Dev’s hand. “Okey dokey!” She turned her face up to him, eyes glowing. “Ready for ice cream?”

Dev grinned. “Always.” With a quick nod toward Lacey, he ushered the child outside.

Louise shook her head fondly. “He’s good with her. Really good.”

“He half-raised his own siblings, I think.”

“Still, he handled her just right. Didn’t look away from her, didn’t give her pity. Just treated her normal, which is all the child wants.” The older woman gazed steadily at Lacey. “A woman could have a good life with a man like that.”

Lacey flushed. “I don’t think that’s in the cards, Louise.”

“Not good enough for you, society girl?”

Lacey’s temper flared. “I don’t see that it’s any of your business.” Immediately, she was ashamed. What did Dev call it? Princess to peasant? “I’m sorry. Things are…complicated.”

“Man-woman stuff generally is, hon. None of it comes easy. But a man like that, a smart woman figures out how to keep him. Especially after all he did.”

“What do you mean?”

Louise settled a large brown envelope in her lap. “All the proof you could want that Christina’s aunt isn’t good parent material. Seems the woman’s got some brushes with the law, some real bad habits and some very unsavory friends. Nice courtin’ gift, I’d say.”

Lacey clasped the envelope in her hands and ducked her head, blinking back tears. “We’re not courting,” she whispered.

“Hmmph—fat lot you know. You’re not watching that man’s face when he’s looking at you and thinks nobody’s paying attention. He’s got it bad, girl. Whatever it is that’s gone wrong between you, there’s plenty of feelings there to tide you over.”

Lacey lifted her head and studied the woman who’d seen so much of life’s woes. Louise’s own life had been worse than most of her cases.

How spoiled I am. How pampered. She was right. I’m soft
. Dev deserved a chance to explain, at least.

Her fingers brushed the envelope. This was something the man who’d made love to her so tenderly would do.

It nearly killed me when you threw my love on the ground and walked away
.

There had to be reasons why he’d kept so much secret. She needed to hear him out.

“So you’re telling me to fight for him?” A tiny smile curved Lacey’s lips.

“Don’t know how you can look at yourself in the mirror if you don’t try. That’s a lot of man there, girl. Big heart, fine and strong. Easy on the eyes, too.” Louise grinned, eyes sparkling. “You too soft for the fight, maybe I’ll jump in and grab him for myself.”

Lacey laughed, and it felt so good. She settled back on the pillows. “I think I’ve been feeling sorry for myself.”

Louise shrugged. “Little bit of that goes a long way.”

Lacey drew a deep breath. “You’re right. It does.” She looked carefully at the woman before her. “I’m going to try to adopt Christina, if I can get the rest of my life straightened out. You might not want me working on her case until then.”

“I get worried about your behavior, I’ll tell you. Meanwhile, you need to get yourself well. There’s work to be done, and I’m not getting any younger.” She made as if to leave.

Lacey held out the envelope. “Here—you’ll want this.”

Louise winked. “Not my courtin’ gift, hon. I best be leaving it with you. Seems like someone in this room might want to thank the man properly.” She waved on her way out.

If only he’ll come back so I can
, Lacey thought.
If only I can dig past the remote stranger to find the real Dev
.

Chapter Thirteen

W
hen the tap on the door turned out to be Dev, Lacey’s nerves jittered. “Hi. Come on in.” She clutched the envelope to her breast. “Thank you for getting her here.”

He shrugged. “Happy to do it.”

Still so distant. So impassive.

“And thank you for this.” She indicated the envelope. “Louise says that Christina’s aunt can’t make her case now. If only…”

He frowned faintly. “If only what?”

She glanced away. “I don’t know if I’m the best person for Christina now. I don’t know how I’ll support her. None of what I thought was mine feels right to keep now.”

“They’re still your parents, Lacey. They wouldn’t want you to give up anything of yours. They still love you.”

“Do they, Dev? Why would you lie like that to someone you love?”

A spasm of pain crossed his face, and she regretted her words.

Before she could speak, he did. “Your birth family is nothing to be ashamed of. Those people are as deep-down good as anyone I’ve ever known.” Finally, the impassiveness gave way to strong feeling. “You need to meet them and find out for yourself.”

Just the idea made her uneasy. She could listen, though. Find out more. “Tell me about them.”

Dev thought for a minute, then a faint smile curved his lips. “You’d love Maddie. She’s funny and cheerful and about half-gypsy. And she’d understand, Lacey. She only found out a few months ago that her father lived under a fake name for her whole life.”

“What?”

“Thought you were unique, didn’t you?” A trace of a frown ghosted across his face. “Maddie thought she was the only one left. She’d never known grandparents, and both her parents were dead. I found her for Boone’s dad.”

“I don’t understand.”

Some of the strain on his face eased as he slid into the story. “Maddie’s father—your father—Dalton Wheeler, took the rap for a murder he didn’t commit. His stepfather, son of the most powerful man in the county, beat Dalton’s mother brutally, and she killed him in self-defense. Dalton confessed in order to save her from jail, then vanished with the help of one of her friends so that she couldn’t recant and sacrifice herself. He gave up his identity and the woman he loved—your mother Jenny—to save his mother. Jenny, like everyone else in Morning Star, thought he was dead.”

Lacey couldn’t take it all in. “They were married?”

“No,” Dev said. “But they’d been in love since she was fourteen. Dalton disappeared without ever knowing she was pregnant.” He looked at her intensely. “Maddie is absolutely certain of that. He never really loved another woman, not even Maddie’s mother, the way he loved Jenny. After she went away to have you, Jenny came back and married Sam Gallagher, but she was never the same after she had to give you up. Boone and Mitch and Sam all remarked on the fact that there was always this sadness she couldn’t shake. Until Maddie found her grandmother’s diary with its speculations about the months that Jenny was gone from Morning Star, no one knew why.”